In April, CPSU reported that we had created an inter-agency network to promote the essential work of science related agencies to the public, to the Government, public sector and the community.
Science delegates in the network have decided that the name of the network
will be APScience. Congratulations to Albert Dessi, from RET, who has won two
movie tickets.
A Better Way to Bargain: Over the next 12 months changes will be
happening to the way the public sector bargains. Most enterprise agreements in
the APS are set to end on 30 June 2011. All of the recommendations from the
Moran Review have been accepted in full by and the Government is committed to
streamlining the way your pay and conditions are set.
CPSU will be campaigning for a scientific classification, meritorious
selection and advancement as well as supporting scientific independence.
Making sure a Better Way to Bargain works for all: We know change is
coming but how can we ensure it is fair and will deliver better jobs and
services? Based on strong membership support, we are campaigning for a better
way to bargain. We need a new system which would:
deliver competitive pay and conditions to help attract and retain
quality staff
streamline agency bargaining arrangements which currently involve more
than 100 agreements and 750 separate pay points.
In the coming days CPSU delegates will be talking to you about APS bargaining
through our Better Way to Bargain survey. You can find out more and support the
Better Way to Bargain campaign here. And if
you’re not yet a CPSU member, join today.
Geoscience Australia advancement scheme brings consistency with other
agencies
Under GA’s previous agreements, only about a quarter of employees
advanced a pay point each year and only about a third of employees sat at the
top of their range. As a consequence, GA employees were paid significantly less
than other agencies. Through the efforts of union members, the new system is
starting to bring results. More here.
CSIRO Information Technology staff in a spill and fill!
CSIRO's Information Management and Technology (IM&T) division workers provide
key support for scientists and are a highly valued and respected part of CSIRO.
With a greater emphasis being placed on desktop science, this support function
is becoming even more critical. CPSU members are running a campaign to reverse a
proposal to cut staff numbers and services in IM&T.
Click here for copy
of a petition to CSIRO CEO Megan Clark to pass around your workplace in support
of CSIRO staff. Please return petitions to
csstaff@cpsu.org.au or fax to 03 8620 6347. CSIRO have also announced a cut
of around 25 staff from food research.
Restructure at TGA
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is undergoing an organisation-wide
restructure to bring it into line with international standards for the
regulation of therapeutic goods in Australia. CPSU are supporting and
representing staff during TGA's transition to the new structure. Want to help
out or find out more? Email CPSU delegate
Anne Slaney.
Questacon wins national tourism award
In February, Questacon was awarded the Tourist Attraction Award at the
Australian Tourism Awards in Tasmania. They beat out CPSU members at Booderee
National Park to win the award, so you know it was well contested. Questacon
staff have also had a major win in bargaining by removing aged-based rates of
pay which increase some staff’s hourly rate from $11.70 to $20.20. Unfortunately
Questacon staff are still paid a lot less than their APS colleagues performing
the same work. You can find out where your pay stands compares to other agencies
by checking the comparison tables on our Better
Way to Bargain campaign page.
New Enterprise Agreements, Access and facilities agreements in science
agencies
CPSU has recently signed new agreements at NMI, FSANZ, Questacon, ORER and
the AAO which will now be called the Australian Astronomical Observatory.
Members are also about to begin negotiations at the National Blood Authority.
BOM is the next big agreement.
We’ve also recently negotiated union access and facilities protocols at FSANZ,
DEWHA, and the National Blood Authority which will make it far easier for
delegates to represent their members in those agencies. It will also mean that
you have better access to CPSU information and better recognition of your right
to be a CPSU member.
Supporting science
If you’re interested in becoming a delegate we can provide paid-time training
and then support you representing science workers. If you want to be active and
let the rest of the world know what is happening in your agency email
science.cpsu@cpsu.org.au
I support the CPSU’s science network - what can I do?
